ALAMEDA HEALTH SYSTEM
CLINICAL PHARMACIST SPECIALIST
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
REPORTS TO:
Director of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Clinical Operations Manager or designee
SUMMARY
The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist–Infectious Disease is responsible for the provision of safe, effective, appropriate and
cost-efficient medication therapy to patients in the area of Infectious Disease. Under direction of the Director of
Pharmacy he/she will assist in the planning, organizing and monitoring of the delivery of pharmacy services for Alameda
Health System
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
An incumbent in the class of Clinical Pharmacist Specialist – Infectious Disease coordinates the pharmacy services
within AHS and its clients. In contrast to incumbents in the classification of Pharmacist who prepare and dispense drugs,
the incumbent in the classification of Clinical Pharmacist Specialist – Infectious Disease have advanced post graduate
training or equivalent experience and possess a broad scope of pharmacotherapy knowledge and skill for providing direct
patient care as well as providing complex, in-depth clinical services. In addition to administrative duties, the Clinical
Pharmacist Specialist provides consultation to the staff and to clients.
SPECIFIC PHARMACY PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Develops, enforces and maintains policies and procedures that promote and enhance patient outcomes through
safe, effective, cost-efficient and appropriate medication therapy use for patients receiving antimicrobials.
2. Coordinates programs designed to minimize medication errors, adverse drug reactions and medication misuse
with regards to medication preparations in infectious disease through improved reporting, analysis and follow-up.
3. Coordinates and maintains the antimicrobial stewardship program, including:
a. Overseeing daily prospective audit of antimicrobials
b. Assisting in development and maintenance of an antimicrobial formulary approved by the medical staff.
c. Working with the infectious disease service to evaluate appropriate use of restricted antimicrobials
d. Developing guidelines, policies, and other monitoring and intervention strategies for antimicrobial use
and streamlining prophylactic, empiric, and definitive antimicrobial therapy
e. Compiling data and metrics on antimicrobial use
f. Working with the Antimicrobial Stewardship committee to maintain and update the Highland Hospital
Empiric Therapy Guide.
g. Reporting data and findings to the Antimicrobial Stewardship, Infection Control and Pharmacy &
Therapeutics Committees.
h. Coordinating, facilitating and promoting education, training, competency assessment and performance
improvement of pharmacists, pharmacy residents and other healthcare professionals in the appropriate
use of antimicrobials
4. Serves as pharmacy consultant rounding with Infectious Disease consult service
5. Precepts PGY1 pharmacy residents and pharmacy school students in Infectious Disease rotations.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CLINICAL PHARMACIST:
1. Works with the Director of Pharmacy or Pharmacy Clinical Operations Manager to coordinate, expand and
deliver pharmacy services with AHS.
2. Monitors patients in a specific unit/specialty service with includes collecting patient-specific data, performing
relevant physical assessments, interviewing patients, and identifying patient goals of therapy.
3. Assesses patient-specific medical problems, prioritizes medical problems based on urgency and severity and
identifies preventive and health maintenance issues.
4. Evaluates patient-specific drug therapy and therapeutic problems by evaluating appropriateness of drug therapy,
assessing effectiveness, and identifying potential interactions or adverse effects.
5. Designs a comprehensive drug therapy plan for patient-specific problems and persuasively justifies
recommendations based on patient-specific pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic,
pharmacogenomic, pharmacoeconomic, ethical, legal and evidence-based information.
6. Documents clinical interventions in a timely and professional manner.
7. Monitors and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient adherence issues.
8. Collaborates with patients, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals.
9. Develops and maintains the drug formulary for ACMC as well as provides education for physician and other
healthcare providers regarding additions and revisions to the formulary. Includes preparing drug monographs and
cost analysis for presentation to committees, staff, physicians and other staff.
10. Review and evaluate requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs.
11. Evaluates medical information and retrieves biomedical literature using appropriate search strategies and
interprets biomedical literature with regard to study design, methodology, statistical analysis, significance of
reported data, and conclusions.
12. Possesses knowledge of current evidence-based practice and serves as a drug information resource for other
healthcare providers and team members.
13. Represents Clinical Pharmacy Services on various committees, staff meetings and professional meetings as
needed as it relates to the pharmacy area of practice/specialty.
14. Coordinates continuing education activities for medical and nursing staff; orients new employees on pharmacy
practices and procedures. Includes submissions to the pharmacy newsletters, participating in journal clubs, and
providing in-services to professional staff.
15. Assists in establishing and supervising record keeping, auditing and other drug control policies and procedures as
required by County, State and Federal laws.
14. Participates and contributes to ongoing performance improvement projects for the pharmaceutical care services
provided.
15. Serves as a preceptor to pharmacy residents, students, and volunteers.
16. Performs other duties as required based on the needs of the department and under the supervision of the Director
of Pharmacy or Pharmacy Clinical Operations Manager.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree is preferred. Successful completion of a Pharmacy Practice residency or
equivalent clinical experience in direct patient care delivery required. Completion of a PGY2 Advanced residency in
infectious disease, fellowship, and/or board certification is preferred.
LICENSE REQUIRED
A current California Pharmacist license is required.
REQUIRED AGE-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
See addendum
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
May supervise pharmacist, technicians, or a small clerical support staff.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
Comprehensive knowledge of current pharmacological/biopharmaceutical principles, medical terminology, pathologies,
disease state management, age appropriate therapy, and other information as it pertains to medical or pharmaceutical care
management plan. Expertise in drug utilization review required. Federal/State laws/regulations regarding delivery of
pharmacy services and the scope of practice of a pharmacist. Working knowledge of aseptic technique & preparation of
sterile IV products & chemotherapeutic agents, as required. Emergency medication & drug monitoring, as required.
Sources of current drug information and medical literature.
SKILLS/ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Ability to extract pertinent information from patient/ other sources for a medical management plan. Teaching ability and
evaluation. Effective verbal/written communication skills at appropriate level. Learn & operate pharmacy computer
system(s) & other equipment and software. Become BCLS certified. ACLS certification may be required in some areas.
Demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills. Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively with others on the patient
care team.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by
individuals assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and
skills required of personnel so classified.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee
to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PERFORMANCE WILL BE MEASURED AGAINST SPECIFIC, AGREED UPON GOALS AND TIMELINES
Typed: 9/96
JGS:lm
Reformatted: 3/4/02
FLSA Status: Exempt
Bargaining Unit/Local: SEIU 616
Human Resources Approval/Date:
ADDENUM TO JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
REQUIRED AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
Demonstrates ability to provide appropriate care based on the needs of a specific individual, including the patient’s age in
the following age categories, if applicable:
Infant/Toddler: 1 month to 2 years
Involve parents in assisting with procedures.
Incorporates age, weight, and physiologic needs in implementing the plan of care.
Considers cognitive and motor abilities and psychosocial needs in implementing the plan of care.
Uses safety precautions to prevent falls, ingestion, burns, suffocation, etc…
Child: Preschool Child and School Age Child: 3-11 Years
Discuss procedures with the child in ways the child can understand
Consider cognitive, motor, and social development in implementing the plan of care.
Involves the child in choices whenever possible.
Adolescent: 12Years to 17 Years
Explains procedures to adolescents and parents using understandable terminology and giving rationale.
Encourages participation in decision-making and planning.
Adult 18 Years to 64 Years
Encourages participation in decision making and planning
Allows patient to address concerns and make arrangements to temporarily transfer job/family responsibilities to
others.
Geriatric: 65 Years and Older
Incorporates age, weights, and physiologic needs into plan of care.
Considers cognitive and physical abilities, motor skills and psychosocial needs in implementing the plan of care.
Clinical Areas
Highland
Age-specific competencies required
Fairmont
Age-specific competencies required
John George
Age-specific competencies required
Ambulatory Care Age-specific competencies required
Non-Clinical Areas
N/A. No direct/in-direct patient contact
N/A. No direct/in-direct patient contact
N/A. No direct/in-direct patient contact
N/A. No direct/in-direct patient contact
Alameda County Medical Center
Position Title: Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
1. Check the frequency and number of hours a day the worker is required to do the following specific
types of activities:
ACTIVITY
FREQUENCY
# OF HOURS A DAY
CONTINUOUS
INTERMITTENT 1 2 3
4
5
6
7
8
8+
a. Sitting
X
X
b. Walking
X
X
c. Standing
X
X
d. Bending
e. Squatting
f. Climbing
g. Kneeling
h. Twisting
i. Lifting
LIFTING
0-20 lbs.
20-30 lbs.
2a. HAND MANIPULATION REQUIRED?
No
2b. Repetitive hand movements?
No
40-60 lbs.
Over 60 lbs.
Yes
(If yes, complete a,b,c,d,e,f)
Yes
2c. Simple Grasping?
Right Hand
No
Yes
Left Hand
No
Yes
2d. Power Grasping?
Right Hand
No
Yes
Left Hand
No
Yes
Right Hand
No
Yes
Left Hand
No
Yes
Right Hand
No
Yes
Left Hand
No
Yes
2e. Pushing Pulling?
2f. Fine manipulation:
3. (a) Does the job require worker to reach or work above the shoulder?
Frequency
(b) Reaching at or below shoulder level?
Yes
No
WHILE)
4. Does the job require use of his/her feet to operate foot controls or
for repetitive movement?
5. Are there special visual or auditory requirements?
For example: Working with computer terminal
Yes
No
Frequency (ONCE IN A
Yes
No
Yes
No
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
a. Does the employee work near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and in outside
weather conditions?
Yes
No
b. Is the employee exposed to fumes or airborne particles?
Yes
No
BLOOD/FLUID EXPOSURE RISK: (check the right category) N/A
Category I: Tasks involve exposure to blood, fluids or tissue
Category II: Usual tasks do not involve exposure to blood, body fluid, or tissues but job
may require
performing unplanned Category I tasks.
Category III: Tasks involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues. Category I task are
not a
condition of employment.